Interview || Friday Night With Amaross

Get To Know Amaross Better With Our Exclusive Interview 

Double the passion, and double the skill; Italian electronic music duo Amaross are set to light 2015 on fire with their brand new collaborative project. With a passion for electronic music and events, Marco Ferry and Francesca (aka Miss Matilda) first crossed paths at the Art Music Academy in Venice, where they laid down plans to join their considerable talents and craft something truly unique and remarkable. Fast-forward a few years later and Amaross are finally prepared to uncover their hard work for all to discover!

From an early age, Ferry’s talent as both DJ and producer was recognized across Italy, leading to bookings at some of the hottest nightclubs in the country for over two decades. Thanks to that experience, forged in the DJ booth and the studio, Marco developed a diverse and versatile sound that now emanates from Amaross’ music. Beginning with Hard-House and Hard Progressive-House and dipping into Trance, Ferry has cultivated a vast knowledge and understanding of all variations of music. With two decades of experience under his belt, Ferry knows more than most just what it takes to make the crowd go wild.

                                                                                                                    

Known to thousands around the world as influential blogger Miss Matilda, writing for her own Miss Matilda blog, Francesca has amassed a international legion of loyal followers, cementing her position as one of the leading tastemakers in the Italian and European dance music scene, covering global events as wide ranging as Ultra Music Festival, Street Parade, Sensation White, MTV and Bridge Xtreme Festival. Beginning her musical career singing in a pop-rock group in her hometown, Treviso, Italy, at the age of 24 she moved to London, falling deeply in love with the British clubbing scene and the culture that surrounded it. Working on multiple projects, including hosting a 2-hour Techno Dance Music Show with Mark Manning and an Italian Radio show that established her as a leading authority back in her home country, she was able to hone her DJing and producing skills, enhancing tracks with her own incredible vocal range.

Armed with endless creativity, Amaross are now ready to roll their music out across the globe. Carving their name into the minds of dance music enthusiasts via their official podcast COAST2COAST, the duo combines sounds from all across the dance music spectrum. Keeping Progressive-House as their foundation, and incorporating Electro and Dubstep to their repertoire, Amaross’ powerful sound is crafted exclusively for the planet’s biggest dance floors and hottest crowds. Their debut release ‘Friday Night’, set for release on the 26th of January on Exalted Tunes, is just the first hard-hitting single to come across 2015 from this incredible double act.

Hello Marco and Francesca ! Thank you for taking time out to do this interview with us. It is a huge pleasure.

Hi, it’s a pleasure for us, a real pleasure.

1.     How are you doing?  We are currently in summer what is the one thing you love the most about summer?

We are really good – very happy and excited for our official debut single ‘Friday Night’. Thinking about summer, the thing we love the most are the festivals, because they’re the best way to stay outside with friends and have fun together to the rhythm of the music.

2.     This is a staple TIE question, what is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear South Africa?

That’s a good question, because we have never been in your country, but it could be the sharks (LOL!) Just kidding, one of our best friend’s grew up in Johannesburg and she is always inviting us to visit the wonderful South Africa. So hope to meet there soon, maybe during next Ultra South Africa!

3.     Can you tell us a little more about who both of you are? If you weren’t making music what would you be doing?

We are just two music lovers who want to turn our passion into a career. We have both been a part of the music industry for many years, but now we have combined forces as AMAROSS, and really just want to spread our sound across the globe. If we weren’t making music, I would probably be a tennis player and Marco would be a pastry chef!

4.     Is there a specific story behind the name Amaross?

Amaross is a mixed named between Marco and Miss Matilda. We thought it was important to come up with a name that really represents both of us, but also has a nice ring to it.

5.     The story goes you two met at Art Music Academy in Venice, how did you really meet and how did you follow up on the plans you made?

We met for the first time in 2012 at the Academy during a keyboard lesson, but we became friends later when Marco invited me to a party one night where he was playing. Since then everything has been very natural. We started to talk about combining our experience and talents in a collaborative project. We began trying out some ideas out and testing how well we work together, and it was clear that we worked really well together. We both have our own studios, so we tend to work on bits and pieces alone, and then come together when we are onto something really good!

6.     Francesca you run a very successful blog Miss Matilda, how did you get into blogging and how did you manage to turn it into such a success?

 Oh thanks! I really appreciate it especially when the feedback comes from a great publication like Think in Electronic!

I’ve been addicted to music since I was baby. I have thousands of funny videos where I am dancing and singing in front of the television! I have even participated in some music competitions, but it didn’t really seem to be my time. I didn’t give up though. I started MissMatildaBlog with a basic Wordpress site. It began almost like a diary, and began to receive a lot of attention. That’s when I decided to make it more professional. I think the main reason for its success is dedication and motivation. Never give up on your dreams!

7.     Marco you a well-known DJ who explores into all genres, what made you decide you want to be a DJ and producer?

I started DJing when I was 13 years old, playing vinyl records at small parties (birthday parties etc.) I started to get noticed, and began getting booked for some of the biggest and best clubs across Italy. I have always been a seeker of sounds, and melodies, and this naturally lead me into producing my own music. Couldn’t actually live without producing now!

8.      Do any of you have any musical training? How did you go about perfecting your skills, both DJing and producing?

Regarding DJing skills we are autodidacts, we learnt everything we know by watching other DJs play. Producing was almost the same. We use LOGIC-X, and we perfected our technic by attending some music training courses.

9.     Do you remember the first electronic song that you heard which made you say I want to make electronic music and is there a reason why you turned to electronic music?

We decided to produce electronic music because we both love it, especially when the electro dark sounds meet pop-dream melodies. There’s not a particular track, but a special album we were inspired by was Album Title Goes Here – Deadmau5.

10.   How would you describe the Amaross sound in 3 words?

It’s dreamy, hypnotic, and experimental.

11.   What is a typical day like in both of your lives? How do you guys go from idea to finished product?

We both have built up our own studios over the years. We find that working separately on our own beats works really well, because it allows us to explore separate paths. When we feel like we have found something unique and special, we come together and expand on that idea.

12.   Amaross debut track Friday Night drops on the 26^th what was the inspiration behind the track?

Everything started from the piano riff. Marco came up with it, and when he showed it to me I immediately knew we  had to build up a song around this particular riff. It was a bit difficult in the beginning, because the track is quite experimental and we didn’t know how people would react to it, but it wasn’t long before Big Alliance contacted us and signed the song to Exalted Tunes! :)

13.   One guy, one girl, do you ever have any fights and how do you resolve them?

We tend to bicker a little because Marco adores the light sounds and the pop melodies, and I love the darker, more hypnotic sounds. It can sometimes be difficult to agree on which sound to work with, but the beauty of Amaross is that we combine lots of different musical aspects – therefore we always manage to compromise and create pieces that we are both proud of. Our passion to build is bigger than the passion to destroy!

14.   How do you go about naming your tracks?

It just comes from inspiration! We don’t do market research, we just follow our concept idea and what we think fits well to the track.

15.   You both are Italian, what’s the best thing about being Italian?

People know Italy for the weather, the food, the football, but the passion in what we do is the common denominator for being Italian.

16.   Which words or phrases do you both overuse?

Be authentic!

17.   Name one thing your fans don’t know about each of you.

We really love each other.

Do you have any last message for you fans..

We just want to say thank you for supporting our music and being so close to us.

It’s a wonderful feeling!

Thank you so much for doing this interview with us. We hope to see you playing in South Africa soon J  Layla and Yasmin